Simulator for altitude effects on pressure breather



Oct. 20, 1959 M. ARONSON 2,909,185

smumoa FOR ALTITUDE EFFECTS ON PRESSURE BREATHER Filed June 4; 1954 3 She ets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR MOSES ARONSON ATTORNEY$ Oct. 20, 1959 v M. ARONSON 2,

SIMULATOR FOR ALTITUDE EFFECTS ON PRESSURE BREATHER Filed June 4, 1954 I a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT'OR MOSES ARONSON ATTORNEYS M. ARONSON Oct. 20, 1959 SIMULATOR FOR ALTITUDE EFFECTS ON PRESSURE BREATHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4,.1954

INVENTOR MOSES ARONSON A fr ATTORNEYS NJLM.

United States Patent O SllVIULATOR FOR ALTITUDE EFFECTS ON PRESSURE BREATHER Moses Aronson, Levittown, N.Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a device designed to simulate breathing conditions under reduced pressure and is particularly applicable for use in the training of airplane pilots.

In actual flight, as the pilot climbs to higher altitudes, reduced air pressure requires the use of oxygen. Unless oxygen is supplied, the pilot experiences undesirable physiological and psychological eifects.

In the training of pilots, these effects are duplicated by apparatus which will bring about the same results as flying under actual conditions. In the operational equipment, oxygen is supplied to-the oxygen mask, fitted over the pilots face, from the oxygen regulator and a storage tank. The pressure breathing aneroid of the oxygen regulator is designed to operate automatically. The bellows of the aneroid expand and above about 33,000 feet altitude they move a diaphragm which, in turn, causes the demand valve to remain open a small amount. This permits oxygen to travel through the oxygen mask tubing under pressure, to the pilot. Under ordinary flight conditions, positive pressure to force oxygen into the lungs of the pilot is required from about 33,000 feet up. Heretofore, it has not been possible to successfully simulate these conditions. However, by means of the present invention, the aneroid is replaced by a system which enables it to provide positive pressure. In addition, it is no longer necessary to use bottled oxygen in the simulator or trainer, but compressed air may be substituted.

It is a primary object of the invention to simulate pressure breathing.

It is another object of the invention to provide simulation of pressure breathing without the use of the actual operational pressure breathing aneroid.

It is a further object of the invention to avoid the necessity for use of oxygen in training, the same results being obtained by substituting compressed air.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device simple in construction, and relatively simple to operate.

It is a feature of the invention to provide suitable linkage means which are operative to actuate a diaphragm and the demand valve, which in turn moves, to cause air under pressure to enter the mask in simulation of actual operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of the simulator of the invention connected with the oxygen mask,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the synchro and linkage hous- 2,909,185 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 ice ing assembly with parts cut away for the sake of clearness,

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the gearing arrangement,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3 an illustrates the linkage arrangement,

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-'5 of Fig. 1 of the oxygen demand regulator,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of a part of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the invention is designated by numeral 10 and is operatively connected to a conventional automatic pressure diluter demand oxygen regulator 12. Regulator 12 is connected to an oxygen mask 14 by means of flexible tubing 16. Oxygen or air under pressure is supplied at 18 and out to mask 14 via connector 20. It is generally desirable to use air under pressure, rather than oxygen, and this may be supplied without changing the device.

Altitude simulator 10 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 to 4 and comprises a linkage housing 22 to be operated by a synchro assembly 24 mounted on a base plate or stand 26.

Linkage housing 22 is retained in spaced relation to the base plate by means of vertical posts 28 extending through annular flange 30 and strengthening disk 32 of housing 22.

The servo system used with the device of the invention is operatively connected with the cockpit altimeter computer of the trainer (not shown) and receives the output signal in synchro motor 24. Servo motor 24 is mounted in a plate 34 secured to base 26 by means of angle member 35. Output shaft 36 of the motor is coupled to a multi-jaw coupler 38, which in turn is mounted on horizontal shaft 40 containing Worm gear 42 thereon. Worm gear 42 extends within gear box 44 containing spur gear 46 mounted for rotation on shaft 48 extending through said gear box.

Shaft 48 terminates in a suitable journal 50 at one end thereof and extends a short distance beyond gear box 44 at the other extremity. Keyed on this extremity of shaft 48 at 52 is a horizontal link 54 with apertures 56 providing adjustment means for arm member 58 extending through opening 60 in disk 32. It is apparent that disk 32 may be eliminated Where additional support for housing 22 is not necessary.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, arm 58 is pivotally held at 62 in a preselected aperture56 of link 54-and is also pivotally connected at 64 to link plate 66. While ordinarily tension adjusting means are not required, in the instances where some play occurs, such adjusting means may be added. End ear 68 is apertured at 70 to retain one end of coil spring 72, the other end of spring 72 being secured in the apertured end 74 of hell crank adjusting lever 76. Lever 76 is pivoted at 78 and is adjustably secured to forked member 80 loosely and adjustably held in slot 82 in housing 22. A threaded pin 84 extends through slot 82 and is provided with knurled nut 86 to adjust lever 76 to adjust the tension of spring 72.

Arm 58 is bifurcated at each end 88 and 90 respectively, to receive link 54 and link plate 66. Link plate 66 is apertured and is pivotally secured at 92 to a base link 94 secured at 96 to housing 22. Link 94 is U- shaped with parallel arms 98 slotted at100 to receive link plate 66' at the lower arm and-bell-crankangle arm 102 at the upper arm. 7 v v;

Intermediate'ear 104 is apertured to-pivotally mount link bar 106 at one end thereof. Bar 106 is provided with slots 108 and 110 at the respective ends, with ear 104 retained in slot 108 and with the depending leg 112 Where the angle arm requires no stop means, this structure may be eliminated.

Horizontal leg 120 of lever arm 102 is pivotally fitted on pivot bar 122, in clevis 124. Pivot bar 122 is-provided with a circular disk 126. Annular disk plate 128 is connected to pivot bar 122 by means of a threaded bolt 130 extending through aperture 132 and into bore 134 in pivot bar 122. A compression spring 136 seated between plate 128 and disk 126 serves to keep disk plate 128 in position.

Link housing 22 is threaded on its upper surface at 138 for attachment to oxygen pressure regulator 12. As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, a pressure bar 140 extends across the lower end of pressure regulator 12, the parallel downwardly extending end fingers 142 thereof being adapted to rest on the top of disk plate 128. Crosspiece 140 is pivotally secured at 144 to diaphragm actluator member 146. Demand oxygen regulator 12 is of conventional construction, and the specific details thereof form no part of this invention and are not shown.

In the conventional operational regulator 12, diaphragm actuator 146 is connected with a diaphragm which in turn is connected with an oxygen demand valve. When cross piece 140 is moved upwardly by disk plate 128 of the simulator, it moves actuator 146. Actuator 146 moves upwardly to move the diaphragm which in turn moves to open the demand valve. This causes air under pressure to flow to the pilot. A reverse movement of disk plate 128 lowers actuator 146, which causes the diaphragm to move away from the valve, which now closes off the air supply.

The invention is capable of being used when it is desired to illustrate the use of oxygen under reduced pressure conditions. The invention is especially useful in training pilots who are subject to stratosphere flying. As a plane gains altitude, the air decreases in pressure, until at about 18,000 feet it becomes necessary to supply oxygen or the pilot will black out. This is avoided by increasing pressure in the cabin to compensate for the thinning of the atmosphere. At approximately 30,000 feet, it is no longer advisable to continue to increase pressure in the cabin of the airplane because of the greater dilferential in pressure between the cockpit and the outer atmosphere. It becomes necessary to force oxygen into the lungs at this height, or the pilot vw'll become unconscious. To simulate these conditions, the device of the invention is adapted to operate, and with compressed air, to simulate the effects of altitude on breathing.

The conventional aneroid of an automatic positive pres sure demand oxygen regulator is replaced by the device of the invention and is driven by the motor of a cockpit or cabin altitude computer system in a trainer (not shown). Altitude signals from the position servo system give the position proportional to the cabin altitude in the trainer with the information transmitted to the receiver 24 of the servo system operating the demand valve through linkages of demand regulator 12.

Servo 24 rotates output shaft 36 coupled to worm gear 42. Worm 42 has no thrust motion and rotates spur gear 46 on shaft 48. Link 54, keyed on shaft 48, moves to actuate the linkage in housing 22. Assuming oxygen is to be supplied, link 54 moves downwardly to lower vertical arm 58. Link plate 66 pivots about fulcrum 64, causing link bar 108 to move in the same direction by its connection to ear 104 extending from link plate 66. Bell-crank pivot bar 102 is pivoted with arm 120 pivoted upwardly, causing pivot bar 122 to move in the same direction. This enables annular disk plate 128 to move against bar 140 in the oxygen regulator to move the diaphragm and demand valve (not shown) and admit air under pressure to mask 14. Conditions similar to those obtained in actual flight are thereby simulated. Movement of plate 128 is adjustable by means of apertures 56 in link 54 and tension is maintained by spring 72. Stop screw 114 limits the pivoted movement of leg 112.

The invention is also adapted to be carried out by electrical means, as well as by the mechanical means described above. Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7, where a solenoid 150 is secured to link assembly housing on base plate 152. Solenoid 150 is secured to base plate 152. Plate 152 is similar to disc 32 of Figure 2. Plunger 154 on solenoid 150 is spaced slightly at 156 from base plate 152 to allow the plunger to move freely. Stud 158 on plunger 154 is pivotally connected to a short link 160, which in turn is connected to link plate 66. When solenoid 150 is energized, downward movement of plunger 154 causes link 160 to pivot link plate 66. The remainder of the link structure and the operation of these elements is identical with that of the first form of the invention and are therefore not illustrated in detail. By this construction, the travel in distance of the regulator diaphragm and the solenoid is the same, but the force is multiplied. Thus, the force generated in solenoid 150 is controlled by a rheostat whose resistance is a function of the cockpit altitude and simulates that force exerted by the pressure breathing aneroid at the corresponding altitude.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is: p

1. In a simulator for pressure breathing having a regulator to control the flow of air or oxygen to the maskof a trainee, means for controlling the flow of air or oxygen through said regulator, said means comprising an actuator connected to said regulator, a pressure bar operatively connected to the actuator, signal receiving means for receiving signals from simulated altitude computing means,

' a disc plate engageable with said pressure bar, a link assembly secured to said signal receiving means and to said disc plate to cause the disc plate to directly engage said pressure bar in response to the signal received by said signal receiving means.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said altitude signal receiving means comprises a motor, a drive shaft therefor, a driven shaft operated by said drive shaft, and a link arm keyed on said driven shaft and operatively connected with said link assembly.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said altitude signal receiving means comprises a solenoid, stud means extending vertically from said solenoid, and link means connecting said solenoid with said link assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Winterborne May 25, 1926 

